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My 18-year-old daughter, intelligent and interested, recently started studying at Oxford University. Imagine the blow to her enthusiasm when there was no mark or comment on her weekly essays at the end of week five or six, while the tutorial in week seven was cancelled. Imagine her feelings when told that the reason for the lack of marking or comment was:

"I am too busy with my research".

Is this why my daughter went to university? Is this why I paid Pounds 1,000 in tuition fees? Is this why Oxford receives more money than the average per student? Is research now more important than young people's education? How much longer will taxpayers put up with this, and the taking of money under false pretences? Are universities still primarily interested in teaching?

Name and address supplied